Neither Pope/ ' Nor Profit
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
A IX ilO T 21 1971 Vol 32 No U SCOTLAND GO ALONE pRESS REPORTS INDICATE— ourselves. area independent of Westminster, set would he: is it useful? Not. is it Eventually there would have to :ind comrades on ihe spot con If a legal sanction is needed, why up an assembly of workers* dele profitable? First priority would be be a moneyless economy—but for firm it—that almost the entire popu not ask Ihe people for their views? gates (not political parties as such) the provision of food, clothes and a while no doubt money would be lation of Glasgow, Clydebank and Why not a referendum of everyone from the factories, the*streets, the shelter for all—not luxuries for some necessary to buy food from the the surrounding industrial area of in the area? Glasgow Corporation schools and universities, the hospi and a room in a tenement for the farmers and to conduct a certain Clydeside fully support the action could be asked to organise it. but tals. and from the farmers, and rest. The children, the old and the amount of foreign trade. But as of UCS workers in refusing to sub if they won't then surely the UCS then get down to the Pflfract ic a I sick would have to be provided with rapidly as possible there would mit to being thrown on the dole. It workers could do it themselves? task of building a Ftfiefc exactly the same living standards surely have to be common store is not surprising. Unemployment in Any costs could be met from collec Community. as everyone else. It would mean re houses of all the necessities from constructing the whole area, building which all could take what they the area is running at more than tions taken all over Britain. Hie NOT POLITICAL TALK 10 per cent of the male population question on the referendum could decent homes, schools, hospitals, needed. Clydeside is rich in skills, and on Clydebank, if the shipyards be simple: do you agree that the Such an enterprise 1 would n't be parks and play spaces, and cleaning in industrial plant and in raw ma arc closed down as planned, it will people should run their own affairs as easy as the present course of or up the filth, decay and pollution terials like coal and water and pro reach slump proportions of more —yes or no! The actual voting ganising token strikes and petitions left by a hundred years of capitalist bably iron, and of course it has a than 18 per cent. would have to be preceded by a to the Westminster Government or exploitation. great seaport. There is absolutely Every industry is affected, not period of discussion in which meet the TUC— but at least it would have There would be no unemployed. no reason at all why a Clydeside only shipbuilding but mining, steel, ings could be held in all the fac- the advantage of involving every The idea is preposterous. There Free Community should not survive motors, engineering, thread-making, torias. the shipyards, the schools, one in positive and practical action. would be jobs for all—and. I am and prosper, once freed front the the lot. Clydeside is the worst hit the streets, and everyone would be Not political talk, hut serious action sure, with very much reduced hours dead hand of government and the but the whole of Scotland is be free to pul his point of view*. to make the independent community of w-ork. Factor)' work could alter ravages of private profit-making. ginning to suffer the blight of un When the decision was finally thrive in the interests of iU members. nate with work in the fields. The There would be problems galore lo employment. Pleas to the Govern made—and assuming that it went Naturally, the sort of things such whole idea would be to abandon overcome, and the biggest of all ment to invast in the area have in favour of carrying on production a community would produce would the senseless idea of ‘growth’ at would be the feeling of lots of ordi fallen on deaf cars. Having plun despite ihc wishes of the Government not be the same as it produces now- all costs in favour of the human nary people that they just couldn't dered Scotland of its forests, its raw —then it would only remain to de under the rule of private capital idea of providing a pleasant environ run things themselves without dircc- materials, and exploited its labour clare C'lvdcside and its surrounding and private profit-making. The test ment for all to enjoy. > ap*C t4 for a hundred years, capital is now concentrating, centralising, and forming multi-national companies which seek their profits in the Mid IRELAND land*;, in the South East and—above ..... all—in the Common Market. As they see it. Scotland will become a proving ground for modem arma ments and the only industry will be Neither Pope/ ’ Nor Profit the exploitation of its great natural beauty for the benefit of rich tourists If this happens then, as one eco rpHII STORMONT GOVERNMENTS daries. and only the people can create an nomist has recently declared, about ■k decision to resort to internment with alternative. two million Scottish workers will out trial illustrates the fragility of our so-called ‘democratic institutions*. With A REAL ALTERNATIVE have to emigrate or starve. The Mr. Heath's agreement, the government Both Catholics and Protestants must only export trade left will be whisky of Mr. Faulkner is enacting measures unite, as they have to a limited extent and shortbread. which arc so deplored when utilised in their trade unions, to force the British by totalitarian regime*. Nothing shows troops out of Ireland. If a West of IS THIS DEMOCRACY? more clearly that all governments ul Scotland Workers* Council existed and It is absurd, ridiculous, and down timately need and use undemocratic started to take over industry as proposed right immoral that the lives of thou methods when their power is threatened. in last week's F reedom , British troops Governments arc quick lo condemn the would be needed on the Clyde and this sands of working men and their use of violence when it is directed at would have assisted those struggling for families should thus be placed in their power, but they hold a near mono freedom in Ireland. It would create a jeopardy by decisions taken in some poly and arc quick to use it against any real alternative to this present rotten ‘corridor of power* hundreds of adversity.m system that divides man against man miles away in London or Brussels. All the major political panics in this and show the way to co-operation. Wo Yet such is the ease in this so-called country, the national press and probahl> all have the task of ending the British democratic State. The people’s views most of the general public have sup occupation and assisting those in Ireland * count for nothing. How does tiic ported the internment decision. At best who seek an alternative to the capitalist Government hope to gel away with they sec it as a regrettable necessity. The exploitation of man by man. outcry that followed similar methods While one can understand the attitudo it? True they have all the appara of the IRA. they are nationalists first tus of force and coercion at their used in Aden. Cyprus and Nyasaland bears no comparison. Perhaps the threat and socialists second. In the north they disposal, but not even this collec are very anti-Protestant and it is little tion of Tory rascals can relish is too near home for comfort and so they are willing to condone ‘undemocratic wonder that those of that faith fear.them. the idea of using force to com methods*. Slogans shouted on Sunday’s march, pel the workers to give up the ship in support of the IRA. by ‘left socialists’, yards and go on the dole. That I'D AND CIVIL RIGI I IS show how opportunist and unprincipled would surely create a Bogside on MOVEMENT they arc. The IRA arc an authoritarian organisation who are out to impose Clydeside. It would seem, there It is also very doubtful whether intern fore. that if the workers of Clydeside their solution on the situation without ment has brought the desired results. letting the mass of the people of the stand firm and refuse to evacuate Far from rounding up Ihc hard core of north decide. the yards they will win the battle IRA provisionals, the authorities cast A campaign of mass civil disobedience without any bloodshed at all. their nets very wide and included six Mr. Lynch has. also tried to pass exist between the two religious commu and resistance to internment and the UCS workers are. in effect, telling members of the People's Democracy anti-trade union legislation and despite nities. It is causing many Catholic legalised murder by British troops is the Government to go to hell. That Central Comiltcc and the moderate civil opposition, his Prohibition of Forcible families to move south and the Pro being mounted. The refusals to pay rent is fine—but why stop there? If the rights movement. The ease with which Entry and Occupation Bill has become testants lo get out of the predominantly and rates to municipal authorities, backed majority of the people in this part an IRA provisional member turned law. Catholic areas for both of them fear up by industrial action (a one-day strike up and spoke at a press conference of Scotland think the Government B> condemning internment in the reprisals.